Foremost disability rights group in Nigeria. TAF Africa on Tuesday in Abuja, formally launched the Able2Run Electability Campaign.
TAF Africa’s CEO, Jake Epelle, said the campaign is to increase the political participation of Nigeria’s estimated 34.9 million persons with disabilities (PWDs), citing near-total exclusion from elective office.
According to him, PWDs make up about 16% of Nigeria’s population, but hold less than 0.1% of elective positions nationwide.
He said that the Able2Run Electability Campaign aimed to see the estimated 34 million PWDs in Nigeria actively participate in politics, not only as voters, but as aspirants, candidates, elected officials, and leaders at all levels of governance.
“A comprehensive study by the group covering 2019 to 2025 found that only four persons with disabilities held elective office at the federal, state, or local government level during the period. None of them were women.
“In contrast, 213 persons with disabilities occupied appointive roles, with more than half serving as Special Advisers or Assistants on Disability Matters. Only 116 persons with disabilities presented themselves as candidates for elective positions nationwide between 2019 and 2025,” Epelle said.
He attributed the low numbers to inaccessible polling units (PUs), discriminatory attitudes, poverty, inaccessible information, and exclusion within political party structures.
The TAF Africa’s CEO said the campaign aims to dismantle the stereotype that ‘disability equals inability’ and to move persons with disabilities from the margins to the center of democratic leadership.
He also said that Nigeria’s legal framework supports inclusion, including the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 and the Constitution guarantee participation in public life, while the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Nigeria has ratified, obligates the state to ensure accessible electoral processes.
Epelle said that to address the gap, TAF Africa has opened a free national mentorship and coaching programme for aspiring politicians with disabilities.
He said, “Supported by the European Union under the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria programme, the initiative will establish virtual political incubation hubs across the six geopolitical zones and train at least 180 aspiring candidates in leadership, campaign finance, media engagement, and inclusive governance.”
He urged persons with disabilities (PWDs) to run for office and reject self-doubt; for political parties to adopt inclusion policies, waive nomination fees for PWDs, and make materials accessible in braille, large print, and audio and INEC to enforce disability inclusion guidelines and update its voter register with accurate disability-disaggregated data.
The TAF Africa boss urged government to fully implement the 2018 Disability Act; while also urging the public to reject stereotypes and support competent PWD candidates.
“Democracy without inclusion is incomplete. Nigeria cannot claim to be truly democratic while millions of citizens remain politically invisible. The time has come for inclusion, equity, representation, and leadership. The time has come for Able2Run,” Epelle said.
He added, “Political parties also continue to fall short in ensuring full inclusion. TAF Africa’s Political Inclusion Index assessment of major political parties in Nigeria showed that most parties operate only at a moderate or limited level of disability inclusion. While some progress has been recorded, only one of the assessed parties achieved a high inclusion rating. This demonstrates that significant work remains to ensure disability inclusion becomes institutionalised within party structures, policies, and electoral processes.
“In response to these realities, TAF Africa has opened a national mentorship and coaching programme for aspiring politicians with disabilities interested in contesting elective offices at all levels, including councillorship, chairmanship, State Houses of Assembly, governorships, National Assembly seats, and the Presidency. This initiative is supported by the European Union, under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Programme.
“Through this programme, TAF Africa intends to establish virtual political incubation hubs across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and provide mentorship support to at least 180 aspiring politicians with disabilities. Participants will receive training in leadership, strategic communication, campaign financing, voter mobilisation, political negotiation, media engagement, and inclusive governance.
“This programme is completely free. What is required is commitment, courage, and the determination to lead,” Epelle said at the launch attended by other stakeholders and experts.
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